Italy Advances Plan for Nuclear Power Revival

Italy's parliament has given final approval to legislation that opens the door for the country to reintroduce nuclear power, nearly four decades after the Chernobyl disaster prompted its abandonment. The measure, which cleared the Senate 81-51 with seven abstentions, represents a significant step in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's strategy to enhance energy security and meet climate objectives.

The bill, previously passed by the lower Chamber of Deputies, establishes a legal framework for next-generation nuclear technologies. Over the next 12 months, the government is authorized to develop decrees addressing reactor licensing, safety standards, waste management, and site selection criteria.

This vote positions Italy to re-establish nuclear power, which voters rejected in national referendums following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster and the 2011 Fukushima accident. The Meloni government contends that rising electricity demand, climate targets, and energy security concerns, amplified by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, justify incorporating nuclear energy into the national power mix.

The government's focus is on small modular reactors (SMRs) and other advanced technologies, which proponents suggest could be safer, more flexible, and quicker to construct than the large reactors of the past. The current legislation does not authorize new reactor construction but creates the necessary regulatory foundation for future project proposals, assessments, and approvals.

Italy was once a participant in Europe's nuclear energy development, operating four reactors before a 1987 referendum effectively halted the program. Since then, the nation has depended heavily on imported energy and has become a significant consumer of electricity generated by nuclear plants in neighboring countries. Government projections indicate a substantial rise in electricity demand due to increasing electrification of homes, businesses, and transportation, alongside the expansion of energy-intensive technologies like data centers.

Italy's move occurs amid a broader European discussion regarding nuclear power's role in reducing carbon emissions and decreasing reliance on imported fossil fuels. Nations such as France and Poland are actively investing in or planning expansions of their nuclear energy programs.

Public opinion in Italy appears to be shifting, with a June 2026 survey indicating that approximately 55% of Italians support next-generation nuclear plants, particularly among younger generations who lack direct memories of the Chernobyl incident.

Despite this legislative progress, substantial challenges remain before any reactors could be built. Italy still lacks a permanent national repository for radioactive waste from its previous nuclear program, with waste currently stored at temporary facilities across the country. Future reactor and waste storage sites are also expected to encounter opposition from local communities.

Energy analysts have raised questions about the economic viability of nuclear power, citing high construction costs and the absence of commercially proven, large-scale SMR projects in Europe. Industry estimates suggest the cost for a single 300-megawatt SMR could range from 3 billion to 6 billion euros ($3.5 billion to $7 billion), excluding additional infrastructure and grid expenses.

Michele Governatori, a senior energy adviser at the ECCO think tank, acknowledged the establishment of a regulatory framework but expressed skepticism about significant private-sector interest in new nuclear projects. He suggested that Italy should prioritize readily available measures to reduce energy costs and fossil fuel dependence, such as electrification, energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, energy storage, and grid upgrades.

Environmental groups and opposition parties have indicated their opposition to the government's plans and are expected to challenge future projects once specific reactor and waste-storage locations are proposed.